Alfarell

A 330-post collection

Challenge #04814-M064: A Natural Warning

During a massive storm they put their tent up over the nest of tiny yellow dragons with blue spots, protecting it from the weather, and then slept peacefully, if uncomfortably, in their carriage.

They awakened to find not only were they now completely immune to the deadly stings, but the small creatures now nested in the carriage protecting them from bandits and other deliberate hostiles. -- Anon Guest

[AN: Microdragons are fun creatures, but not that magical. I have to invent some special nonsense]

Tarme was wondering, not for the first time, how traveling merchants managed on their first venture. They had a few things for their own survival, and the rest of the cart was full of carefully-packed pottery and plum wine. They also had an idea, too late, as to why traders traveled in covered caravans.

Storms like this were intolerable with just a tent to protect them and their horse from the blustering weather. Tarme had enough sympathy to bring a small nest of tiny, infant draconic fingerlings into the thin shelter. They were blind, and impossibly small. Tarme also found them pretty, and kept the entire nest's worth of fingerlings tucked up against their chest. Tarme liked to stroke them gently from muzzle to tail-tip, avoiding the sharp tips of the fingerlings' tails. The fingerlings licked and bit Tarme's fingers when they couldn't feed the fingerlings shreds of dried meat.

Tarme dozed through the storm, wishing they had known more before they set out to become a traveling merchant. With luck, they would be able to upgrade their cart to something more weatherproof.

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Challenge #04812-M062: Strength Against Weakness

Remember my students. A bully only has power over you for as long as you let them have it. That includes family members who bully you as well. But remember, the only power over you that anyone has, is the power you give them. Believe in yourself, and you'll be able to believe in those who truly care. -- Lessons

It sounded so nice. Believe in yourself and the horrid people would leave you alone. Cordelia's problem was that some of the

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Challenge #04810-M061: Old, Yes. Helpless? HA!

She was older, heavy, with hair that was greying and she walked slowly with a cane. But when a young ruffian came up and tried to be an ass toward her, the individual found that cane could still be quite an effective, painful, deterrent. No one mocked her ever again. -- Anon Guest

Birron was old enough to know better. Many grownups told him that. But he also wanted to fit in with the awesome, older kids. He was willing to do

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Challenge #04809-M060: The Pygmalion Project

They felt the warm hand upon their stone form, their eyes opening, their flesh restoring, how long had they been asleep. The being before them had kind eyes.... "are...ze...an.. orc?"

The being looked upon them and shook a heavy head. "We're not called that." / "Iz been zleeping for a long time. Wvat...are....ze called dzen?"

"Once I set camp to rest, we can talk, is that alright?" / "Of courze."

It was a long talk late into the night, and

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Challenge #04808-M059: Subject Zero

Dragon's blood is powerful, but, is said to carry a terrible curse. When the need is great, a warrior drinks the blood of a dragon for strength. -- Deathshead419

Dragons are powerful. They're a fact as large as mountains, as devastating as tidal waves, and as hazardous as living itself[1]. Thus it was no shock that lesser species required a large amount of dragon parts to make their magic.

They were warned. Take only that which was discarded, or given freely.

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Challenge #04806-M057: Talking to Faeries

Ragvald was once a great warrior, known for his berserker trances brought on by imbibing the sacred mushroom. But now he struggles to discern what is real and what are visions the mushrooms bring. -- Deathshead419

In the frozen Northlands, the Berserkr gained heavy respect in battle. Mostly due to their ability to literally tear apart the enemy. Or anyone who got in their way, for that matter. When they're foaming at the mouth and have run out of enemies, they have

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Challenge #04805-M056: (Thunder) Roll Intimidation

A crazed warlord demands at a temple that God produce rain for a drought wracked region in three days or they’ll be consequences. When the time comes and goes, the warlord sets up an artillery battery around the temple and fires on the heavens above. The next day it begins to rain. If it’s stupid and it works… -- Deathshead419

While it is well known that the gods are in charge of things that mortals can't control, it is supremely

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Challenge #04804-M055: Seeds of Hope

They were wandering adventurers, lost, hungry, most of their equipment wrecked. A poor family that had little took them in and shared what meager rations they had. None got 'quite enough', but no one went to bed completely hungry. The adventurers arrived as an escort to their leader, a king. He helped the poor family get back on their feet again, not through lavish wealth, but humbler gifts of food, aid to fix their home, and seed that would actually grow in

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Challenge #04800-M051: Paradise is Imperfect

Dragons, Elves, Teufel, Halloblood, Humans, Kobolds, etc, all were welcome at this beautiful spa. Massages, haircuts, scrubbings to help the scales, manicures pedicures, the works. A plaque by the door, both in images and multiple languages read "Long hair trimmings will be made into wigs for those in need, short hair to bundles for bird to make nests. Scales, claws, and nails shed or trimmed shall be ground into fine powder, and mixed into the soil helping the free garden to grow

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Challenge #04799-M050: It's a Start

I've killed so many. Teufel, Kobolds, Vampires, ... so many. Even a dragon. Yet, you... you let me live. But more important, you saved my family. I was taught to hate you, fear you.... never even tried to understand. Ye gods... what have I done? Even if I lived a thousand years.... I don't think I could ever atone for it all. -- Anon Guest

There's only so many careers that are obviously predestined when given the name Guy Stronginthearm. One was becoming

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Challenge #04794-M045: Old or Bold

"I'm mean and tired. I break vainglory seekers and make them spit out regrets. So don't try me. I'm trying to get some actual rest now that I'm retired." -- Anon Guest

The trouble with being the best is all the egotistical neophytes trying to boost their way to the top of the mountain by besting the best. Which is tremendously annoying when that best person in question is trying to enjoy their retirement.

Hasryk the Kingslayer had learned this after a

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Challenge #04793-M044: Honourbound Duty

Fennel spent a few more months in the grove as her body adapted to its new heart and she recovered. The guardian taught her friends to be stronger, wiser, and more educated, and, when she was deemed strong enough, allowed to go with the guardian's blessing. To Bastion, they stated, "Remember, love is a rare flower, nurture it well." Then looked to Geesh. "Remember, not all treasures are the kind you can sell." To Halestaff, "Take care of this new little sapling,

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Challenge #04787-M038: Escape From Injustice

When everything goes wrong for our protagonist, he takes to the seas, hoping to find a new life far from home. But no one can ever really flee from one’s past. -- Deathshead419

"Oh lack-a-day lilly, got bit by the filly! The whole world is hating on me. And so I'm running off to sea!" -- Alfarell children's song.

Fairweather knew she had a stowaway. It wasn't as if there were a lot of hiding places on her old tub. Kid

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Challenge #04785-M036: The Price of Paradise

A village was once plagued by constant storms, swarms of locusts, and bandits harrying the fringes. Now an idol in the heart of town wards away the old travails, bringing good harvests and peace. All it asks for is the heart of a child once a year… -- Deathshead419

They had taken to sheltering in the caves when the worst of the weather hit. Huddled close to each other with any animals that had also done so. What crops had survived the

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Challenge #04779-M030: Those Were the Days

King Nydon is gone, and the jubilation from his fall was real. Yet now years have come and gone, allowing memories of how bad things were to fade, had leaving King Reginald to deal with a burgeoning nostalgia for his father’s reign.

[Follow up to: https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04632-l248-better-than-perfection ] -- Deathshead419

King Reginald of Bevuran and his Prince-consort Connow ruled wisely and well for decades. Raising a junior niece as the intended heir to the crown. Bevuran was no

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